I am helping the Parkway Drive church in Lubbock with their VBS this evening. It is the first time I have had the opportunity to work with this congregation and I am really excited about it.
Tonight's message is on "The Parable of the Talents" from Matthew 25. For many this is a familiar parable. The thing I keep struggling with is how do I communicate the great message of Jesus to the teens I will be speaking to?
It is way beyond interesting that this parable is right in the middle of two others... all of them have to do with folks who will not be in the kingdom of Heaven... folks who are left out. That's not really a message we like to think about.
Another observation. This parable is not about what we call talents... ability to sing, speak, etc. It is about $. More than that it is about how we use what God has given to us.
Today... what do you have a hard time letting go of? What do you have a hard time trusting God for. Are there times when you want to, or actually do, just bury your talent in the ground?
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
blessed...
I had a great weekend in Eastland. For the last 3 years I have been invited by the Daugherty Street Church of Christ to come speak at a "Men of Faith" conference at Lake Cisco Christian Camp. We had a really good time on Saturday. There were a good number of men from Eastland, Cisco, Gorman, Commanche, Cross Plains, Baird, Ranger, and a few other places in attendance. We spent the morning studying the life of Abraham - basically from Hebrews 11 - it does not matter how far along you are on the journey of living by faith - there is LOTS to learn from Abraham. On top of the good studying we did we had great meals and even better conversations!
This weekend I will be doing some work with the North A Church in Midland. I have a real passion for working with young people. A couple of their folks were in attendance at a workshop I spoke at recently and have asked if one of our students and I would come and make a similar presentation.
I am so grateful for these opportunities. I hope they will be a blessing to the folks who come - and that the Kingdom will be stronger because of it.
I hope you are having a great day
This weekend I will be doing some work with the North A Church in Midland. I have a real passion for working with young people. A couple of their folks were in attendance at a workshop I spoke at recently and have asked if one of our students and I would come and make a similar presentation.
I am so grateful for these opportunities. I hope they will be a blessing to the folks who come - and that the Kingdom will be stronger because of it.
I hope you are having a great day
Thursday, February 26, 2009
remember...
Folks have "encouraged" me for years with lines like this... "it only gets worse from here!" That encouragement comes in response to something about me forgetting. I tell people all the time - "Let me write it down. If I write it down there is about a 50-50 chance I will remember. If I don't write it down there is no chance!" For years I have been encouraged that it is a sign of old age... and it only gets worse... THANKS!
How about you? There is a truth about us... we are habitual forgetters. I know some of us have perfected forgetting better than others... but we all forget. Sometimes my forgetting is worse... more embarassing... than others - it all depends on what I have forgotten!
It caught my attention yesterday while reading 2 Timothy 2. Paul told the young apprentice missionary Timothy to "remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel." Of all the things Paul reminded Timothy of in his two short letters, this is the most shocking to me. Why? Why would he think it was necessary to remind Timothy to remember Jesus... to remember the resurrection... to remember Jesus' lineage... to remember the Gospel?
Maybe because Timothy, like me - and maybe like you, could easily forget. Forget Jesus? Surely this does not mean completely forget Jesus... so it must mean to not remember some specific things about Jesus. Paul is telling Timothy to keep Jesus always on his mind. Paul is saying to remember that Jesus was raised from the dead... since that is true several other things are true as well.
Jesus was raised... faith is not vain.
Jesus was raised... sin has been paid for.
Jesus was raised... death has been defeated.
Jesus was raised... you can have real hope.
Jesus was raised... never to die again.
Jesus was raised... you will be raised as well.
Jesus was raised!
Paul wants Timothy to remember where Jesus came from... descended of David. Why? GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES. You do not have to read very far in one of the geneologies of Jesus to see that God works in all kinds of people... in all kinds of situations... when folks are working for God... and when they are seemingly working against God... in order to keep His promises. Even when there seemed to be no way God could keep His promises... He did.
descended... you can count on God
descended... God will never fail you
descended... what He has promised He will do.
Today... remember!
How about you? There is a truth about us... we are habitual forgetters. I know some of us have perfected forgetting better than others... but we all forget. Sometimes my forgetting is worse... more embarassing... than others - it all depends on what I have forgotten!
It caught my attention yesterday while reading 2 Timothy 2. Paul told the young apprentice missionary Timothy to "remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel." Of all the things Paul reminded Timothy of in his two short letters, this is the most shocking to me. Why? Why would he think it was necessary to remind Timothy to remember Jesus... to remember the resurrection... to remember Jesus' lineage... to remember the Gospel?
Maybe because Timothy, like me - and maybe like you, could easily forget. Forget Jesus? Surely this does not mean completely forget Jesus... so it must mean to not remember some specific things about Jesus. Paul is telling Timothy to keep Jesus always on his mind. Paul is saying to remember that Jesus was raised from the dead... since that is true several other things are true as well.
Jesus was raised... faith is not vain.
Jesus was raised... sin has been paid for.
Jesus was raised... death has been defeated.
Jesus was raised... you can have real hope.
Jesus was raised... never to die again.
Jesus was raised... you will be raised as well.
Jesus was raised!
Paul wants Timothy to remember where Jesus came from... descended of David. Why? GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES. You do not have to read very far in one of the geneologies of Jesus to see that God works in all kinds of people... in all kinds of situations... when folks are working for God... and when they are seemingly working against God... in order to keep His promises. Even when there seemed to be no way God could keep His promises... He did.
descended... you can count on God
descended... God will never fail you
descended... what He has promised He will do.
Today... remember!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
where have I been?
You only have to look for a second or two to realize that I have been much of a blogger lately. Thanks to several of you who have encouraged me to start back up. This is a warning... more blogging to come!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
count your many blessings...
This is not original... but what really is original? As you prepare to give thanks maybe these questions will help you count the many ways you have been blessed and then thank God for it.
Name a blessing for which you are thankful that comes from...
living where you live
belonging to your church family
a specific talent, gift or knack that is useful in the kingdom of God
your occupation or work
your association with a specifc living person (not a relative)
your association with a specific person who has passed on (not a relative)
each of your immediate family members
a family member who has passed on
the trials you have experienced
a present disability or hardship that is a challenge for you
your education
your citizenship
your personality
a particular scripture
things you have read
a specific possession
five specific spiritual blessings
the world that you have seen
someone in another country
an activity you participate in
your imagination
your childhood
someone in your church family (not already named)
one of God's natural wonders that awes you
a recent unexpected kindness
a past kindness that you have not forgotten
someone who has forgiven you
someone you have forgiven
It will be cool for us to share these blessings with one another! Have a great thanksgiving - and I thank God for you.
Name a blessing for which you are thankful that comes from...
living where you live
belonging to your church family
a specific talent, gift or knack that is useful in the kingdom of God
your occupation or work
your association with a specifc living person (not a relative)
your association with a specific person who has passed on (not a relative)
each of your immediate family members
a family member who has passed on
the trials you have experienced
a present disability or hardship that is a challenge for you
your education
your citizenship
your personality
a particular scripture
things you have read
a specific possession
five specific spiritual blessings
the world that you have seen
someone in another country
an activity you participate in
your imagination
your childhood
someone in your church family (not already named)
one of God's natural wonders that awes you
a recent unexpected kindness
a past kindness that you have not forgotten
someone who has forgiven you
someone you have forgiven
It will be cool for us to share these blessings with one another! Have a great thanksgiving - and I thank God for you.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
you can't fool God!
I remember when I was in college I worked at an automobile dealership in the service department. My job was to drive customers back to their home or work when they brought their car in for service. My assignment was clear. There were times when we were super busy. There were also times when it was incredibly slow. I learned an important lesson during one of those slow times.
It was right before Thanksgiving and there had only been a few people bring their cars in for service. So there were several of us standing around. The owner came through the shop and in just a few minutes we were all called to come to the front of the shop. The boss had talked with our boss, now he was passing down the word from above. “If we would like to continue our employment we had better start working.” Simple message. It was hard to misunderstand. After we were dismissed from this impromptu meeting I asked the service manager what I was supposed to do. He said, “I don’t care. You just be sure that you look busy.” I was not the only one who was told the same kind of thing.
From that day on, when anyone saw the owner coming there was a quick word and then everyone “looked busy.” It did not matter what you were doing, or even what you needed to do – just do something – and look busy! The message I remember was this – just fool the boss. It does not matter what you are doing – as long as he thinks you are doing what you should be doing.
Have you ever played this kind of game with God? Ever felt like you were just going through the motions, not giving yourself to God, just acting like it? I have not only felt that way – that has been the case. These words from God have really challenged me. These are words that have made a real difference in my life. I trust they will in yours as well.
Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked,
whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.
If you sow to the flesh,
you will from the flesh reap corruption.
If you sow to the Spirit,
you will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8
Every time I run across a passage that begins with these words, “do not be deceived…” I have to stop and wonder why the passage starts this way. I think it is because what we are about to read is written about something we have the tendency to be deceived about. Don’t you hate it when someone deceives you? It is a terrible thing to realize that someone has played you for the fool. They have set out to make you believe something that is not true… and they have accomplished it.
Do you know what is worse than being deceived by someone? What about deceiving yourself? It is more than a possibility. We can get so caught up in doing our thing, in wanting something to be a certain way, that we convince ourselves that something is true – even when we know better. Surely this is one of those areas.
The apostle Paul wants to make this very clear. It is not enough to say we want to see spiritual growth in our lives. The desire alone is not enough. What we must pay attention to is this – what kind of seed are we sowing? If we sow spiritual seed, we will find spiritual fruit. If we sow to please the flesh, we will find corruption. If you are not finding the kind of fruit in your life that you really want… instead of blaming others why not start by examining yourself?
What kind of seed are you sowing? Are you making decision, and taking actions, both big and small that will lead to spiritual growth?
It was right before Thanksgiving and there had only been a few people bring their cars in for service. So there were several of us standing around. The owner came through the shop and in just a few minutes we were all called to come to the front of the shop. The boss had talked with our boss, now he was passing down the word from above. “If we would like to continue our employment we had better start working.” Simple message. It was hard to misunderstand. After we were dismissed from this impromptu meeting I asked the service manager what I was supposed to do. He said, “I don’t care. You just be sure that you look busy.” I was not the only one who was told the same kind of thing.
From that day on, when anyone saw the owner coming there was a quick word and then everyone “looked busy.” It did not matter what you were doing, or even what you needed to do – just do something – and look busy! The message I remember was this – just fool the boss. It does not matter what you are doing – as long as he thinks you are doing what you should be doing.
Have you ever played this kind of game with God? Ever felt like you were just going through the motions, not giving yourself to God, just acting like it? I have not only felt that way – that has been the case. These words from God have really challenged me. These are words that have made a real difference in my life. I trust they will in yours as well.
Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked,
whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.
If you sow to the flesh,
you will from the flesh reap corruption.
If you sow to the Spirit,
you will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8
Every time I run across a passage that begins with these words, “do not be deceived…” I have to stop and wonder why the passage starts this way. I think it is because what we are about to read is written about something we have the tendency to be deceived about. Don’t you hate it when someone deceives you? It is a terrible thing to realize that someone has played you for the fool. They have set out to make you believe something that is not true… and they have accomplished it.
Do you know what is worse than being deceived by someone? What about deceiving yourself? It is more than a possibility. We can get so caught up in doing our thing, in wanting something to be a certain way, that we convince ourselves that something is true – even when we know better. Surely this is one of those areas.
The apostle Paul wants to make this very clear. It is not enough to say we want to see spiritual growth in our lives. The desire alone is not enough. What we must pay attention to is this – what kind of seed are we sowing? If we sow spiritual seed, we will find spiritual fruit. If we sow to please the flesh, we will find corruption. If you are not finding the kind of fruit in your life that you really want… instead of blaming others why not start by examining yourself?
What kind of seed are you sowing? Are you making decision, and taking actions, both big and small that will lead to spiritual growth?
Monday, November 24, 2008
give thanks...
This is the week. I love this time of year. I'm not that much for the turkey - something about the whole cannibal thing : ) The dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs... and wait, there is something missing... in fact it is sooooo important that it just owould not be thanksgiving without it... oh yes, that is it... PECAN PIE!
What? There is something else? How could I have forgotten? That's right, it would not be Thanksgiving without giving thanks. So will you? Have you?
I want to challenge, encourage, beg you to. Do it right now. In fact, if you have never written a thanksgiving Psalm - make it a new tradition.
If you need a little help starting - read the Psalms. Read what the Psalmist thanked God for. Take time to make a list of all you have to be grateful for... then actually do it... and really write it down.
If you want - share it on the comments section of the blog - I think that would be encouraging for all of us!
What? There is something else? How could I have forgotten? That's right, it would not be Thanksgiving without giving thanks. So will you? Have you?
I want to challenge, encourage, beg you to. Do it right now. In fact, if you have never written a thanksgiving Psalm - make it a new tradition.
If you need a little help starting - read the Psalms. Read what the Psalmist thanked God for. Take time to make a list of all you have to be grateful for... then actually do it... and really write it down.
If you want - share it on the comments section of the blog - I think that would be encouraging for all of us!
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